I may have a ’slanted’ view about this movie, as my Maternal Ancestors are from Ireland; but the movie is really very good. I qualify it as a Classic! A Must See!
Main Players:
John Wayne - as Sean Thornton
Maureen O’Hara - as Mary Kate Danaher
Barry Fitzgerald - as Michaleen Flynn (Ireland’s original ’’Elf’’ :o)
Ward Bond - as Father Peter Lanergan
Victor McLaglin - as Squire Danaher
Mildred Natwick - as The Widow Sarah Tillane
Arthur Shields - as Reverend Cyril ’’Snuffy’’ Playfair
Francis Ford - as Dan Tobin
Director - John Ford
Screenplay by Frank S. Nugent
From Story by Maurice Walsh
Music - Victor Young
Location:
Filmed entirely in Ireland in the village of Cong - just inside Co. Mayo; western part of Ireland - the village is renamed Inishfree in the movie. You will be mesmerized by the beauty of the land, and realize the ’’forty shades of green of Ireland’’. Truly worth seeing for the photography of this part of Ireland, alone!
Trivia:
Republic Pictures film - 1952
Director John Ford won Academy Award for Best Director
Academy Award for Best Cinematography
John Ford’s birth-name was Sean Aloysius O’Feeney; his eldest brother, Francis Ford, plays the part of Dan Tobin - the old, dying man who is ’resurrected’ from his death-bed.
Plot:
Sean Thornton returns to Inishfree, Ireland - the land of his birth - to buy and settle down in the cottage of his childhood. On his way to town, driven there by Michaleen Flynn - whom Sean remembers as a young boy - he encounters the beautiful lass, Mary Kate. Both are smitten at-first-site.
Sean sets out to buy the cottage and land from Widow Tillane. Sean accomplishes this, only to incur the wrath of Squire Will Danaher...yup...brother to Mary Kate, and long-time suiter of Widow Tillane.
Sean easily makes friendships with Father Lanergan, Rev. Playfair, and other townsfolk. He begins to make repairs to the cottage and yard. He eventually starts a courtship with Mary Kate, only to be thwarted by her brother, the Squire.
The townsfolk, including the priest and reverend, plot a conspiracy to get the Squire to allow courtship, then marriage, of Sean and Mary Kate. But there are troubles to be overcome.
There is comedy in this film - the scene when Michaleen visits the newlyweds and catches a glimpse of the broken-down wedding bed.
There is action - the horse-race where Sean and the Squire are competing. The best ’fight-scene’ to be filmed (and reported the longest) between Sean and the Squire...no bloody gore but a bit o’ comedy, I might add.
Don’t want to give any more away, but really recommend you see this movie (video). It is light-hearted, beautifully filmed, and entertaining! Each of the actors is perfect for parts they portray.
Oh?not to forget the beautiful background music! Often serene, often whimsically toe-tapping - perfect music for the film.
I originally saw this movie at theatre, and long ago bought the video - which I usually watch at least twice a year. I’ve read there are two versions of the DVD (I don’t own the DVD): one bad, one good, so take caution if you buy the DVD.